How JustAnswer Works:

Experts are full of valuable knowledge and are ready to help with any question. Credentials confirmed by a Fortune 500 verification firm.

Get a Professional Answer

Via email, text message, or notification as you wait on our site.Ask follow up questions if you need to.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Rate the answer you receive.

Ask Dr.Fiona Your Own Question

Dr.Fiona, Veterinarian

Category: Pet

Satisfied Customers: 6273

Experience: 16 years experience as a companion animal veterinarian in British Columbia, California and Ontario

7995545

Type Your Pet Question Here...

Dr.Fiona is online now

My dog recently woke up with welts (dime size bumps) all ...

Customer Question

My dog recently woke up with welts (dime size bumps) all over her back. She went on a hike the day before and could have been bit by something or have an allergy to something. The bumps don''t ooze any fluid, they don''t hurt her when I touch them, and she isn''t itching them. in fact, she doesn''t seam to be at all effected by them. it has been over 24hours and they have not changed.

What you are describing at the moment with welts all over your dog's body sounds like she may have hives. This is an allergic reaction that causes these swellings. It can be to an insect sting, or to a medication (is she on any at the moment?).

I would suggest that you treat her for this! Do you have any BENADRYL (diphenhydramine). The dose that one generally gives is 1mg/lb. Is she about 50lbs? It comes as 25 mg tablets, and if she is 50lbs, I would like you to go give her TWO TABLETS. This can be repeated every 8 hours for 24-36h.

If the swelling is increasing in size or starting to include other areas such as around her face or nose, I suggest you take her to your veterinarian immediately. Please stay with her until it starts to come down because if it starts to cause swelling in her airways this could be serious. If it comes down with the Benadryl, it raises the index of suspicion that this is an allergic reaction.

If your Pit Bull mix does NOT respond to the Benadryl that would suggest that this is not hives, but instead is something called folliculitis, which is an inflammation of the hair follicle. There is even a name for it: "Short coat Folliculitis." Sounds impressive, doesn't it? It is generally caused by a bacterial infection in the hair follicle. These bacteria are just the normal ones that are present on normal skin, but they have invaded into her follicles. Short haired dogs are prone to this.

Now, in terms of what to do about it if this is short coat folliculitis, I must warn you that it often takes 30 to 60 days on an antibiotic (usually cephalexin) to resolve this. If, however, you want to try to treat this at home first, you could use a benzoyl peroxide shampoo but make sure to condition afterwards (I recommend an oatmeal conditioner). You can get the shampoo at your veterinary hospital, or at a big pet store (PetSmart might have it) or on-line. Try shampoo/condition her once and see if there is any improvement. If there isn't within a day or two, I suggest you take her to your veterinarian.

So, in summary, this could be hives which should improve quickly if you give Benadryl. If it is not changing with the Benadryl, then bathe her with an antibacterial shampoo and soothing conditioner. If this does not help, please take her to your vet as she may need antibiotics.

If this has been helpful, please accept my answer and leave feedback. If you would like more information, just click on reply and I will still be here to provide it.

Thanks for the info. we tried 2 doses of benedryl so far and it doesn't seam to be helping. On key piece of info that i don't think was clear, is that she only has the bumps on her back. they are more concentrated around the back of her neck and continue around the length of her spine. If it was hives, or folliculitis, it seams like the bumps would be generalized. Should we go ahead and try the shampoo you suggested, or should we take her in to the vet?
Thanks,
Alexis

Reply to Dr.Fiona's Post: nope, not itchy, he doesn't seam to mind them at all. Yesterday, we were lying in the sun and I could part her fur and get a good look at them. I squeezed one to see if there was anything inside and clear fluid oozed out. She didn't even care that i was squeezing it. Very strange....then just now my husband noticed tinny pimples on the inside of her thigh, they have white heads on them the size of the tip of a pencil. the cluster is about the size of the palm of your hand. These are different than the welts on her back, not sure if they are related, but she has never had them before.....
thanks,
Alexis

Ok, so the bumps you are describing definitely sound like folliculitis!

And the little pimples with white heads sound exactly like pyoderma.

Basically, they are the same thing, which is a bacterial skin infection. When it is in the hair follicles, it is called folliculitis and makes the hairs stand up straight instead of lying flat, and causes a swelling around the hair follicle, which you see as a bump. When it in a hairless area you see the little pimples.

So, given that it is on 2 locations (on her neck/back and also on her inner thigh) I do think she is going to need a course of antibiotics from your vet. I would schedule an appointment this week to take her in.

Antibiotics not only kill the "bad" bacteria causing skin infections, but also can kill the "good" bacteria in the intestines. This can sometimes lead to diarrhea and decreased appetite. In order to prevent or correct this problem, you could try probiotics like FortiFlorahttp://www.dogbuffs.com/?p=80 while your girl in on the antibiotics. This has been shown in clinical studies to have positive effects on immune function!!

Often, I do also suggest acidophilus to restore the normal ("good") bacteria to the system. You could either get a supplement (listed below are a couple of the many good options) or you could pick up some low-fat or non-fat ACTIVE CULTURE yogourt at your grocery store. Please check that there are NO artificial sweeteners in it if you go with yogourt. Activia plain sweetened is a great option: http://www.danone.ca/en/products/activia.aspx I would try to get 1/2 of a little container of it into her per day - divided into 2 small portions.

That normally helps within about 2 or 3 days to get her feeling better if she develops diarrhea. If you give the yogourt right from the beginning of the course of antibiotics, she may never have digestive upset at all.

Skin infections usually need antibiotics given by mouth - often for as long as 4 weeks! It is important to finish all medications even though the problem may appear to be resolved. At a microscopic level, there can still be infection and not finishing the antibiotics may allow this infection to flare-up again some weeks later because it was not completely resolved.

I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.

What Customers are Saying:

I must tell you I found this site by accident and was amazed when I asked a question of the Veteranians online. I wish I could have found it sooner it could have made such a difference in the outcome of my pet's surgery. However, I am passing along the information to my sister-in-law (a cat-rescue person who is also a nurse), and perhaps it will help someone else who may experience the same problem.
The doctor who answered my question was amazing, and while it didn't come it time to change the outcome of my situation, it is reassuring to know the caliber of Vets/Doctors that you have at JustAnswer. Thank you for being there.Alice H.Jacksonville, Fl.

I must tell you I found this site by accident and was amazed when I asked a question of the Veteranians online. I wish I could have found it sooner it could have made such a difference in the outcome of my pet's surgery. However, I am passing along the information to my sister-in-law (a cat-rescue person who is also a nurse), and perhaps it will help someone else who may experience the same problem.
The doctor who answered my question was amazing, and while it didn't come it time to change the outcome of my situation, it is reassuring to know the caliber of Vets/Doctors that you have at JustAnswer. Thank you for being there.Alice H.Jacksonville, Fl.

You are a light at the end of scary tunnel when $ are tight, but people need professional help to turn to for help with their dear pets!LinhCharleston, WV

$1,000 spent at his vet, and I finally get the correct diagnosis from Nancy Holmes for $15CarolCedar Hill, MO

I think this is the greatest web site in the world. Thanks to all!JudyNew Haven, CT

I have referred several friends to your web site. I'm impressed with how easy it is to use your site, the Experts available and the quickness of answers.
NinaUSA

I am completely pleased with the quick response that I received in our time of need for our dog, Jasmine. I couldn't believe how quick the response was and I thank you. It's good to know you're there!!Jasmine's MomUSA

Please let everyone involved with your site know that your Expert, Dr. Lucy, has saved my dog's life. I will recommend your site to all my pet loving friends.
Thank you again for simply being there!Sonya GEasley, SC

Ask a Pet Specialist

Get a Professional Answer. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

56 Pet Specialists are Online Now

Type Your Pet Question Here...

characters left:

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.